Omaha Police news release on the 19th and Bancroft St.-area fatal officer-involved shooting Tuesday afternoon:
"The Omaha Police Department’s Officer-Involved Investigations Team (OIIT) is investigating an incident that occurred Tuesday afternoon at 2713 S. 19th Street, which resulted in the death of one individual.
At approximately 8:42 a.m., Uniform Patrol Bureau officers responded to a disturbance involving a landlord and a tenant. The tenant, identified as Matthew Strain, 55, had been served an informal eviction notice 30 days prior and was scheduled to vacate by June 1, 2026. When contacted, Mr. Strain refused to exit his room and threatened to shoot anyone who attempted to enter. Officers on the scene reported hearing the sound of a firearm being manipulated and loaded inside the room. Despite requests to exit the bedroom, Mr. Strain stated, “If anyone comes into this room, someone will die today.” Officers immediately evacuated the landlord from the residence and retreated to a safe distance after learning Mr. Strain may be in possession of an AR-15 style rifle and a shotgun.
The Criminal Investigations Bureau assumed the follow-up investigation into the suspect's threats. Investigators determined that Mr. Strain was a convicted felon prohibited from possessing firearms. Consequently, a court-authorized warrant was obtained for terroristic threats. Surveillance was maintained on the residence until the warrant could be served.
Shortly after 3 p.m., the Omaha Police Department SWAT Team and a crisis negotiator arrived. SWAT personnel removed uninvolved individuals from the residence. For nearly an hour, negotiators attempted to persuade Mr. Strain to surrender via telephone. During these discussions, Mr. Strain claimed to have a stockpile of weapons and ammunition, reiterating his intent to shoot at officers if they entered the residence. Efforts to de-escalate the situation were ultimately unsuccessful.
At approximately 4 p.m., the OPD SWAT Team approached the residence using a tactical vehicle known as a “Rook,” driven by the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office. The Rook was to breach the structure near Mr. Strain's second-story bedroom window for chemical munitions deployment and tactical drone surveillance. Mr. Strain began firing a rifle equipped with a large-capacity drum magazine from the window at the Rook. Four OPD SWAT Team members returned fire: two with lethal force weapons and two with less lethal chemical munitions. After a portion of the structure was cleared by the Rook, a drone was utilized to enter the room and confirm Mr. Strain was incapacitated. He was located near the window still holding the rifle and was pronounced deceased at the scene by Omaha Fire Department personnel. It was later determined he died of a single gunshot wound to his head.
A subsequent search of the residence revealed several additional firearms and thousands of rounds of ammunition. The investigation is ongoing, with OIIT receiving assistance from the Bellevue Police Department and the Sarpy County Sheriff’s Office. Portions of the incident were captured on body-worn and drone cameras.
In accordance with department policy, the five involved officers have been placed on paid critical incident leave. The Omaha Police Department extends its condolences to the family and friends of Mr. Strain."
(Picture from Omaha Police)